Magnetic recorder unit



3 Sheets'-Sheet l w. P. LEAR MAGNETIC RECORDER UNIT /7 //Z /f Z/ ZZ 25.

Oct. 18,- 1949.

Filed oct. so, 1945 m m V M Oct. 18, 1949. w. P. LEAR MAGNETIC RECORDER UNT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed ooi. so, 1945 Oct. 18, 1949.

Filed Oct. 50, 1945 W. P. LEAR MAGNETIC RECORDER UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 fwn/4M P. am

Patented Oct. 18, Vl1949 MAGNETIC RECORDER UNIT William P. Lear, North Hollywood, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Lear, Incorporated, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Illinois Application October 30, 1945, Serial No. 625,493

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a magnetic recorder unit and more particularly to a novel chassis or cabinet construction for a sound recorder-reproducer unit of a magazine type magnetic recording system. The chassis or cabinet construction of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in the sound translating unit described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 595,240 led May 22, 1945 for Magnetic sound translating system, now Patent No. 2,438,222, granted March 23, 1948, assigned to the same assignee as this case.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a magnetic sound translating unit comprising a chassis assembly including a main chassis member containing electrical and electronic sound translating circuit components and a removable secondary chassis member containing electromechanical driving mechanism for separable magazines; to provide i a chassis assembly including easily disassembled and inspected chassis members whereby the chassis assembly may be readily serviced and repaired; to provide a magnetic sound translating unit in which damaged parts may be readily and easily replaced with a minimum loss of time; and to provide a' simple, inexpensive and compact chassis for a magnetic sound translating unit.

These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sound translating unit incorporating the present invention and showing a magazine cooperable therewith.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sound translating unit, but With the magazine detached therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of the unit, but with the magazine detached.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the unit.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational View partially broken away of the unit.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational View of the chassis member shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan View of a secondary chassis member forming part of the sound translator unit.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation view of the chassis member shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation View of the secondary chassis member and its supported mechanism.

Generally speaking, the sound translating unit chassis assembly of the present invention comprises a main chassis member having shelf portions for supporting electrical and electronic sound translating circuit components, a secondary chassis member receivable within a recess in the main chassis member, and supporting driving mechanism for magazine components, and a cover member. The cover member and the main chassis member are complementarily apertured to form a grill for a sound propagating element such as a loud speaker. The secondary chassis member includes a base plate and a mounting plate for supporting a magazine containing reeling means for traversing a magnetic recording wire with respect to a magnetic translating head. Detachable electrical connections are provided between the main and secondary chassis members for connection of the electrical and electronic components in the main chassis member with the translating head in the magazine. Such connection is afforded by detachable electrical coupling elements mounted respectively in the magazine and the mounting plate of the secondary chassis member.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the sound translating unit I 0 of the invention is shownvas comprising a main chassis or base member II provided with a front panel I2 on which are mounted control elements for the unit. Such control elements may include, as shown, a control switch I3, a, power connection I4, an indicating light I6, a jack I1 adapted to receive a plug connected to a microphone, a selector knob I8, and control knobs 2|, 22 and 23. A cover member I5 is secured to chassis member I0 and the front wall 24 thereof is formed with a grill portion 26 cooperable with a grill portion 21 in front wall I 2 of chassis member II to provide a grill 28 for a loud speaker 3). Upper wall 3l of cover yI5 is apertured at 32 to expose a mounting plate 33V forming part of a secondary chassis member or subframe 2l).

Mounting plate 33 cooperatively supports a magazine 25 which may be of the type described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 593,378 led May 12, 1945 for "Magnetic recorder, now Patent No. 2,424,697, granted July 29, 1947, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. Magazine 25, as therein shown in detail, includes a pair of reels for traversing magnetic recording wire with respect to a magnetic translating head, spooling mechanism for layer winding the magnetic recording Wire onto and oli the reels, mechanism for indicating the amount of talking time remaining on the wire, and mechanism for operating motor controlling limit switches in sound translating unit I0. The magazine comprises a base 33 and a cover 34 secured thereto by screws 35. Cover 34 has an aperture 36 containing a transparent window 31 having indicia 38 cooperable with an indicating member (not shown) for denoting the amount of talking time remaining of magnetic recording wire.

Suitable coupling gears are operatively associated with the reels in magazine 25 and are cooperable with coupling gears 40 and 45 mounted in secondary chassis member 20 as described in my said Patent No. 2,438,222. The magazine also contains a spooling mechanism drive gear cooperable with a gear 4| projecting through mounting plate 33 of chassis member 20. Electrical connection between unit I and magazine 25 is provided by an electrical coupling member 42 detachably cooperative with a mating coupling member in magazine 25. A limit switch operating member 43 projects above the surface of mounting plate 33 for engagement with operating mechanism in magazine 25 to deenergize the driving motor included in unit I5 when the wire in magazine has been substantially completely transferred from one reel to the other.

Magazine 25 is maintained in engaged relation with unit I0 by means oflatching bars 44 projecting above plate 33 at each corner thereof, and automatically engageable with latching pins in magazine 25 when the latter is placed on mounting plate 33. The magazine may be released from unit I0 by depression of a release bar 46, as described hereinafter, Mounting plate 33 also supports pins 41 which enter into apertures in magazine 25, to properly locate the magazine on the mounting plate.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 2 through 6, chassis member II is generally rectangular in shape and includes front wall I2, a bottom wall 48, a rear wall 5|, side walls 52, 52 and a top wall 53. Top wall 53 is formed with a rectangular aperture 54 having downturned fianges 55, 55 and adapted to receive a base plate 56 forming part of secondary chassis member 20. On either side of recess 54, top wall 53 provides shelf portions 51, 58 for supporting electrical and electronic sound translating circuit components generally indicated at 6| through 61 in Fig. 2. Adjacent forward wall I2, top wall 53 is formed with a frusta-conical recess 68 adapted to receive the lower portion of loud speaker 30. As may be noted from Fig. 5, top wall 53 is formed with apertures 59 of corresponding sizes and shapes for receiving fastening elements and the circuit components 6I through 61. A reinforcing plate 10 is secured to bottom wall 48 of chassis member I.

Front wall or panel I2 of chassis member II is formed with grill work illustrated at 21 and also with apertures for the control elements mounted thereon. Angle brackets 1| secured to top Wall 53 detachably connect cover I5 to chassis member II. Cover member I5 is likewise generally rectangular in shape, and includes a front wall 24 containing grill section 26 which is complementary with the grill section 21 of front wall I2 of chassis member The two grill sections 26 and 21 thus form grill 28 behind which loud speaker 30 is secured by nut and bolt means 14 extending through front wall I2 of chassis member Il.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 4, 1, 8 and 9, secondary chassis member or subframe 20 supports the driving mechanism for the reels in magazine 25, and the mechanical and electrical coupling elements cooperable with the magazine coupling elements. For this purpose, member 20 comprises base member 56 interconnected by shaft supporting columns 16 and 11 to magazine mounting plate 33. Base member 56 comprises a fiat lower wall 18 having upwardly extending side flanges 80, provided with outturned portions 8|. At each corner, flanges 80 are turned inwardly as at 82 and contact front and rear flanges 83, 84 on Wall 18, which are of less height than are side fianges 80. Bosses 85 secured to out-turned portions 8| of flanges 80 are adapted to receive connecting elements such as bolts and nuts securing chassis member 20 to main chassis member |I.

An irregularly shaped reinforcing plate 86 is secured by rivets 81 to the upper surface of wall 18. Apertures 88 in wall 18 receive the lower end of shaft mounting columns 16 and 11. These columns are formed with flanges 90 (Fig. 4) which are connected to base member 56 by elements extending through apertures 9| adjacent each of the large apertures 88.

The upper end of column 16 is formed with a flange 92 which is secured to plate 33 by suitable screws or other fastening elements 94 (Fig. 2). The upper end of column 11 is formed with a flange 85 secured to a gear housing 96 which is provided with flanges 91 secured to plate 33. As described in my said Patent No. 2,438,222, columns 16 and 11 rotatably support shafts connected to coupling gears 40 and 45. Gearing housing 36 contains suitable reduction gearing coupling spooling mechanism driving gear 4| to the shaft contained in column 11.

The driving mechanism of unit I0 includes a motor |00 mounted on reinforcing plate 86 and provided with a flange |0| secured to base member 56 by fastening elements extending through holes |02 in wall 18 and plate 86 (Fig. 7). The armature shaft |03 of motor |00 extends through an aperture |04 in wall 18 and plate 86, and a driving roller |05 on the lower end of shaft |03 is included in the driving mechanism generally indicated at I I0 (Fig. 4) Selector knob I8 is likewise secured to driving mechanism IIO, by attachment to an arm I|| extending through an elongated slot I I2 in front wall I2 of chassis member I. Another element forming part of driving mechanism ||0 comprises an L-shaped latching bar I|3 secured to flange 83 of base member 56. Bar |I3 includes a forwardly extending flange I|4 having an arcuate forward edge formed with slots II5. The driving mechanism and the in ter-relation and cooperation of parts forms no part of the present invention, being described and claimed in my aforesaid Patent No. 2,438,222.

Plate 33 supports the latching means for automatically securing magazine 25 in operative relation with unit I0, and includes brackets IIB and I|1 secured to plate 33 which pivotally support latching bars 44. A link I|8 interconnects one pair of bars 44, and release bar 46 is secured to one of this pair of bars. The operation of the latching mechanism is fully described in my said Patents No. 2,438,222 and 2,424,691.

Secondary chassis member 20 is secured to main chassis member II by insertion of base member 5B into recess 54. Out-turned portions 8| of flanges 80 rest upon shelf portions 51 and 58 of chassis member II and securing elements extend through bosses 85 and holes |20 adjacent either edge of aperture 54. Downturned flanges 55 of chassis member Il assist in rigidly main- 'taining chassis member 2| assembled in aperture 54.

After the chassis members have been thus assembled, bar of selector knob I8 is inserted through slot ||2 and secured by nuts |2| to driving mechanism for operation thereof in the man-ner described in my said Patent No. 2,438,222. As' illustrated more particularly in Figs. 2 and 4, electrical connection members |25 and |30 respectively connect cables |3| and |32 to cables |33 and |34. Cables |3| and |32 are connected to the electrical and electronic components mounted on shelf portions 51 and 58 of chassis member and cables |33 and |34 are connected respectively in the control circuit of motor |90 and to electrical coupling elements 42 mounted on plate 33. 'Through the latter. coupling elements, the electrical and electronic components of unit lu are coupled in circuit relation with the elements in magazine 25. Support buttons |36 are secured to the lower side of chassis From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that ther invention comprises a compact and easily serviced chassis construction for a magnetic recorder u nit. Due to the mounting of all 'the electromechanical driving mechanism on a 'secondary chassis member, the latter may be quickly and easily removed from the recording unit for inspection and repair. Similarly, on removing cover 5 from the unit, the electronic and electrical components of the recording unit are exposed for ready access.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles thereof, it will be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A cabinet for a magnetic sound translating unit comprising, a base member having a top wall for holding electric and electronic components, said top wall including an aperture, a secondary member for holding electro-mechanical elements of said unit having its lower end within said aperture, means for detachably securing said secondary member in said aperture, and ilexible electrical connectors extending from said base member and said secondary member respectively and including means for detachable securement therebetween.

2. A cabinet for a magnetic sound translating unit comprising, a base member having a top wall, said top wall including shelf members adjacent its extremities for holding electrical components and including a central aperture, a secondary member for holding electromechanical components of the unit having its lower end within said aperture, supporting members along the lower end of said secondary member lying on said shelf members, the lower end of said secondary member being smaller than said aperture whereby said secondary member is removably received in said aperture, and ilexible electrical connectors extending from said base member and said secondary member respectively and including means for detachable securement therebetween.

3. A cabinet for a magnetic sound translating unit comprising, a base member having a top wall, said top wall including shelf portions adjacent its extremities for holding electric and electronic components of the unit and having a central aperture, a subframe for holding electromechanical elements of the unit having its lower end within said aperture and supported on said shelf portions, and a cover overlying said base member for enclosing said components, said cover including a substantially centrally disposed aperture to provide accessibility to said elements.

4. A cabinet for a magnetic sound translating unit of the magazine type comprising, a base member having a top wall, said top wall including shelf portions adjacent its extremities for holding electrical components of the unit and having a central aperture, a subframe having a supporting base and a top panel spaced upwardl-y therefrom for holding electromechanical elements of said unit therebetween, said supporting base being received within said aperture, and a cover overlying said base member and said cover including an opening for receiving the magazine and substantially closed by said panel.

5. A cabinet for a magnetic sound translating unit of the magazine type comprising, a base member having a top wall and a front Wall, said top wall including shelf members adjacent its extremities for holding electrical components of the unit and having a central aperture, said top wall and said front wall including contiguous openings for receiving a sound transducer, a subfra-me having a supporting base and a top panel spaced upwardly therefrom for holding electromechanical elements of the unit therebetween, said supporting base being received within said aperture, and a cover including a top wall and a front wall and overlying said base member, the top-wall of said cover including an opening for receiving the magazine and substantially closed by said panel, and the front wall of said cover including an opening cooperating with the opening in the front wall of said base member.

6. A cabinet for a magnetic sound translating unit of the magazine type comprising, a base member having a top wall and a front wall, said top wall including shelf members adjacent its extremities for holding electrical components of the unit and having a central aperture, said top wall and said front wall including contiguous openings for receiving a sound transducer, a subframe having a supporting base and a top panel spaced upwardly therefrom for holding electromechanical elements of the unit therebetween, said supporting base being received within said aperture, ilanges extending laterally from said supporting base and resting on said shelves, said supporting base being smaller than said aperture whereby said supporting base is easily received therein, and a cover including a top Wall and a front wall and overlying said base member, the top wall of said cover including an opening for receiving the magazine and substantially closed by said panel, and the front wall of said cover including an opening cooperating with the opening in the front wall of said base member.

7. In a magazine type magnetic recording system, a sound translating unit cabinet comprising, a base member having a top wall including shelf members adjacent its extremities for holding electrical components of the unit and having a central aperture, a subframe having a supporting base and a top panel spaced upwardly therefrom for holding electromechanical elements of said unit therebetween, said supporting base being received within said aperture, a cover including a top wall and overlying said base member, said top wall having an aperture for cooperation with the panel of said subframe, and latching elements supported on said panel for holding a magazine on said cabinet in association with the aperture in said cover.

8. In a magazine type magnetic recording system, a sound translating unit cabinet comprising, a base member having a top wall including shelf members adjacent its extremities for holding electrical components of the unit and having a central aperture, a supporting subbase,an upper panel, a pair of columns vertically spacing said sub-base and said panel to receive electromechanical elements of the unit therebetween, said sub-base being received within said aperture, a cover including a top Wall and overlying said base member, said sub-base and said panel, said top Wall having an aperture for cooperation with said panel, and latching elements supported on said panel for holding a magazine on said cabinet in association with the aperture in said cover.

9. In a magazine type magnetic recording system, a sound translating unit cabinet comprising, a base member having a top Wall, said top wall including shelf portions adjacent its extremities for holding electrical components of said unit and including a central aperture, a supporting sub-base, an upper panel, a pair of columns vertically spacing said sub-base and said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,495,055 Whitehead May 20, 1924 2,032,190 Thomas Feb. 25, 1936 2,108,846 Brown Feb. 22, 1938 2,175,025 Hooven Oct. 3, 1939 2,364,556 Somers Dec. 5, 1944 2,369,017 Camras Feb. 6, 1945 

